March 20, 18C«. ] 



JOURNAL OP HOBTICULTUKE AND COTTAGE GABDENEK. 



227 



TKUIT GARDEN. 



Much the same as last week, which see. Shut up the or- 

 chard-house at night in this cold weather. In a lean-to house 

 the blooms against the back wall in the most forward house 

 are beginning to open. Those in pots in the front of the house 

 are not yet showing colour. As soon as the sun melted the 

 hoar frost on the glass gave plenty of air, as we have no wish 

 to forward them ; but as soon as the bloom is fully open in 

 the first house, aud the weather becomes milder, we will shut 

 np early, and give less air to bring on the crop a little earlier. 

 This is a safer plan and more effectual than encouraging 

 the blooms to open early in spring. We would not have 

 grieved if the trees were not in full bloom until towards the 

 end of March, but they will open in spite of us. A correspon- 

 dent directs our attention to the expression in this department 

 last week, page 204—" Placed a surface-dressing of hot dung 

 all over," &c. This should have been, " Placed a surface- 

 dressing of rotten dung from old hotbeds all over." We would 

 also take the opportunity of drawing attention to what was 

 there said of covering the surface of the soil with dry earth 

 after watering. This diy surface all over was a good preserva- 

 tive if the frost had been more severe, and yet the watering 

 prevented the buds suffering from dryness at the roots. With 

 the surface of the soil dry, and the atmosphere still and rather 

 close, the blooms of Peach trees will stand a good deal of frost 

 uninjured, and Apricots will stand much more in a dry air. 

 The fine bursts of sunshine just suit the setting, swelling, aud 

 and ripening fruit of Strawberries, and yet the early crops 

 have given no reasons for dissatisfaction. 



Canvas Screcnx.—SVe agree in all that Mr. Keane says, page 

 203, about canvas coverings, moveable at pleasure, being the 

 ' best protection for tender fruit trees out of doors, and, with the 

 exception of glass, the cheapest in the end. In a great number 

 of gardens, however, the motto of action would seem to be 

 " Sufficient for the day is what must be done," and therefore 

 no end of merely temporary modes of protection must be re- 

 sorted to. We allude to this matter here, however, for drawing 

 the attention of those fortunate enough to possess such move- 

 able canvas, to a use of them, not so much employed as it 

 ought to be, and that is, for retarding the opening of Peach 

 blossom on the open wall. What we have stated above as re- 

 spects trees in an orchard-house, as well as many other facts, 

 prove that the temperature of the trees against the wall is 

 much higher in sunshine than is the atmosphere or the soil 

 ordy a few feet from the wall. In a March distinguished for 

 sunshine the buds will therefore be too forward — much too 

 forward in general in proportion to the heat of the soil in which 

 the roots are imbedded. The screens, therefore, should be used 

 early, kept on during sunshine to keep the buds back, and yet 

 allow the ground to get mellow and warm, and kept off at 

 night and in dull cold days until the buds are so far advanced 

 that it would not be safe to do so. This retarding will help to 

 bring the buds into full bloom when the weather will in general 

 be milder, and the ground more genial and warm. Canvas, 

 unbleached calico, frigi domo, and even fine Nottingham netting, 

 will last many years if kept for such purposes alone, and put 

 away thoroughly dry. The first expense is the only drawback ; 

 and OE this account hundreds must do their best with make- 

 shifts, though well aware that " What is worth doing at all is 

 worth doing well," and that a penny thus saved is often not a 

 penny gained, but a sixpence lost. 



OKNAltENTill. DEPAKTIIENT. 



We have not room to say much here ; but much of our work 

 was a repetition of that of previous weeks. lu a dry day 

 swept and rolled the walks, which had been left a little rough 

 from sweeping snow off them. Rolled the lawn, pruned 

 Laurels and other shrubs. Prepared for future turfing, dug 

 and turned beds for bedding plants, washed glass when mUd 

 and wet. Gave plenty of air when mild to cold pits. When 

 wet washed pots. Potted Geraniums, Fuchsias, &c. Prepared 

 soil for Begonias, and made cuttings of Lobelias, Verbenas, 

 Geraniums, Ageratums, &c., and in a week or so will take off 

 great quantities more, when they will stand in a slight hotbed. 

 Pricked-off seedlings of Lobelias. Sowed lots of the tenderer 

 annual seeds, aud will leave such half-hardy plants as Mari- 

 golds, Asters, Tropa;olums, Stocks, for a fortnight or three 

 weeks longer. Our ground is too cold aud wet for sowing any 

 but the hardiest annuals out of doors ; but in warm, light, dry, 

 soils, the North American annuals may be sown, but even they 

 will do as well if sown later. For an early display an autumn 

 Bowing is more desirable. Looked after plenty of potting and 



striking material under cover, that it might be sweet aud worm 

 when used. — K. F. 



COVENT GARDEN MARKET.— March 17. 



A FEW new Grapes, chiefly from pot Vines, have made their appearance. 

 The market in couBequence of the recent frost is not 8o much glutted 

 with Greens and other out-door vogetablea, and the prices of some have 

 therefore advanced. Large quantities of the usual kinds of salading, 

 also Artichokes, Early Frame Potatoen, &c., continue to arrive from the 

 Continent. Pines are more plentiful, but find a. ready sale at last week's 

 quotations. The arrivals of Potatoes are large. 



TRADE CAT.ILOGUES RECEIVED. 



John Salter, Versailles Nursery, William Street, Hammer- 

 smith, W.—Descriptirc Cataloriue of Clir!isantiifiu.ums, Dahlias, 

 PieonifS, Fldu:ces, Pi/ietUrums, Hardy Varir<iated Plants, etc. 



John Morse, Dursley, Gloucestershire. — Catalogue of Cuttmgs 

 of Dahlias, Fuchsias, Chnjsanthcmuim, Pelargoniums, Bedding 

 Plants, Stove and Greenhouse Plants, die. 



TO CORRESPONDENTS. 



• «• We request that no one will write privately to the depart- 

 mental writers of the "Journal of Horticulture, Cottage 

 Gardener, and Country Gentleman." By so doing they 

 are subjected to unjustifiable trouble and expense. All 

 communications should therefore be addressed solelij^ to 

 The Editors of the Journal of Horticulture, die., 171, Pleet 

 Street, London, E.C. 

 We also request that correspondents will not mix up on the 

 same sheet questions relating to Gardening and those on 

 Poultry and Bee subjects, if they expect to get them an- 

 swered promptly and conveniently, but write them on 

 separate communications. Also never to send more than 

 two or three questions at once. 

 N3.— Many questions must remain unanswered until next 

 week. 

 Fancv Pelargosicms, Stopping and Potting (.S. O. Sadlibon).—Yoa 

 may stop tbem now, but merely take out the point of the shoots and pot 

 them into eight-inch pots. They will not then bloom until the cud ol 

 June. The cooler you keep them, and the more light and air giveu the 

 finer they will be. Drain the pots well. 



Ferns (J/. B.).— Lycopodiums covering the soil's surface beneath Ferns 

 is not injurious to them. We have ourselves the soil so covered. It is 

 impossible for us to be clairvoyant as to what the cost of structures wouitt 

 be, of the size and degree of ornament about which we have no mlorm- 

 ation. 



Chrysanthemum Training (K. M. H.).—Ia "Florists' Flowers for the 

 Many " are some directions. If you enclose five postage stamps witn 

 your directions, you can have It free by post from our office. 



Material for Covering Frames (O. C.).-I have tried almost every 

 kind of material for this purpose, and find nothing equal to mats, iney 

 are cheap, and, with care, will last for two or three years.— U. Abbey. 



